The Winter Sea

By Susanna Kearsley

From the much-loved author of The Vanished Days, a novel of love, loyalty and ultimate betrayal...

1707
An ill-fated expedition for the New World left Sophia Paterson an orphan, cared for by her uncle. On his passing, a distant relative offers what Sophia longs for most: a home. Slains Castle, on the rugged Scottish coast, is much more comfortable than she is accustomed to. But danger is right around the corner, as rebels conspire to bring the exiled James Stewart to Scotland to reclaim his crown.

Present day
Enchanted by the ruins of the castle, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn this all-but-forgotten story into her next novel. Settling in the nearby village, she creates a heroine named after one of her ancestors and starts to write.

Discovering her novel contains more than she researched, Carrie wonders if this is ancestral memory – making her the only living person to know what truly happened all those years ago. With each new chapter she uncovers the secrets of the past in a sweeping tale of love, loyalty and ultimate betrayal.

Praise for Susanna Kearsley:

‘A deeply engaging romance and a compelling historical novel’ 
Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom

‘An epic romance for an epic season, by one of Canada’s best historical fiction writers’
The Globe and Mail

‘A terrific read, evocative and romantic’ 
Nicola Cornick, author of The Scandals of an Innocent

‘Fascinating, immersive and twisty – twists not only of plot, but of character and time’
Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series

***Susanna Kearsley's sweepingly brilliant new novel, The Vanished Days, is out now.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Dec 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781471196089

Susanna Kearsley

New York Times, USA TODAY, and Globe and Mail bestselling author Susanna Kearsley is a former museum curator who loves restoring the lost voices of real people to the page, often in twin-stranded stories that interweave present and past. Her award-winning novels are published in translation in more than twenty-five countries. She lives near Toronto. Visit her at SusannaKearsley.com or follow her on Twitter @SusannaKearsley.

Reviews for The Winter Sea

[anieva-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Soooooo good! Thoughtful and light and lovely and heartbreaking in places. But a beautiful story.

[beverlyt_11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW!! This book was amazing. It had me hooked from the beginning. No book has EVER made me cry, and I cried three times during this one. The tie between the past and present, the turn of events, EVERYTHING, made this an absolute "must read." Historical fiction at its finest!!

[ren1mac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am drawn to novels that are written with a present and past story running concurrently. SK does this charmingly and drew me in right away. Some say it is slow, but if you've a love for Scotland or history, this book should delight you. The history of the Jacobites never fails to make me sad and wonder at the staggering number of 'what ifs' that surround their constant failure to take back their bonny Scotland from the 'wretched' English. SK also dies a charming job of the Doric accent of Jimmy and his two sons. Not sure about 'genetic memory', but love the idea of it! Who knows what travels through time to remain for those who can hear and what escapes our notice? Loved the book - highly recommend it!

[kobooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book so much that I could read it again. Beautifully written with enough romance to make your heart flutter (without all the sexual details) and contained an interesting piece of history that I felt I actually learned something. The story is set in Scotland near Slains Castle/Cruden Bay where Carrie arrives to work on her new novel. She decides to make the main character one of her ancestors who was from the area approx. 300 years ago. The scenes of her story seem to be revealed to her powerfully, as if she is remembering, and Carrie is able to verify the facts of it afterwards. She at first thinks it is coincidence but the fact/fiction line becomes a blur and she learns of something called genetic memory. I will say it is a weird but interesting concept and one that the author worked well into the story. The ending was wonderful and unexpected. Highly recommend!

[bksgoddess · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed the historical part of this book--a great light read!

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carolyn McClelland is writing a historical novel about the little-known Jacobite invasion of Scotland in 1708. She rents a cottage near the ruined castle of Slains which figures strongly in her narrative. There, she finds that the book seems to write itself. People, events, and details which she thought she invented turn out to have been true. Is she tapped into ancestral memories? And which of her landlord's sons is her own true love?A gentle, old-fashioned romance, with less suspense than some of Kearsley's novels, but well worth a read. Kearsley usually reminds me of Barbara Michaels; this one is more like Mary Stewart.

[reb922 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Carrie McClellan is a author researching material for her new book in France. While visiting her friend in Scotland she get the feeling that this is where he new story was meant to take place. The story Carrie beings to write is interwoven with Carries personal story in the current day. The Winter Sea is a well written historical novel with just the right mix of well researched historical facts and personal drama that make you feel part of the time and place if Scotland in the early 1700's.

[avidreaderlisa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Its really hard to concentrate on packing away your bookshelves, we you find a fascinating book to read.

I love both stories in the book. The historical one and the modern one, she blended them so well it was easy to go from on to the other. I have heard several praises about her books from many people on this website, so I thought I would give one a try.

I wasn't disappointed in the least.

I am not giving away any details, because I think you should discover them on your own. I do have a favorite parts and I did get a little lost in the history, sort of makes me what to go do some research of my own.

[theheronhouse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Susanna Kearsley for getting me out of my book rut. Loved the double story, the historical detail and the lovely setting. Great read.

[cariola_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this book. The cover intrigued me, it was set in Scotland, and the present day main character is a writer of historical fiction, so I thought I'd give it a try. In the end, it was just OK--a bit too heavy on the romance for my taste. The novel centers around a young, successful writer who has gone to Scotland to do research for a new book that will be based on the life on one of her ancestors. Set in the 18th century and focused on the efforts to bring the Stuarts back to the throne of England, the novel shaped some of the more interesting chapters. The modern-day story involves two handsome Scottish brothers who both are attracted to Carrie, the writer. This I could definitely have done without, and I thought the concept of Carrie channeling the memories of her ancestor was also a bit of a stretch.

[sscarllet-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm a long time fan of Kearsley and I very much enjoyed this book. I love the entertwining story lines and how they interacted. I love the historical mystery aspect of it as well.

I'm just not sure why the child had to be left behind. That was just so sad for me and somehow the characters were ok with it.

[hjjugovic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely romance full of historical detail and sense of place. A love of Scotland really comes through.

[cfk_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Winter Sea is set in 18th Century Northern Scotland as well as the modern era. Kearsley links a contemporary writer of historical fiction with an ancestress who is involved in the efforts to bring King James to his throne. Because Kearsley's books are solidly set upon historical foundations, I find myself both caught up in the story while uncomfortably familiar with the historical outcome. True to the 'facts,' she still pulls off a truly satisfying end to her tale.

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting. I know more about Scottish history than I did before I read this- some true, some fictionalized. BUT- when a book makes me look up references to other subjects- when I am intrigued by something within the book and search to read more- then I figure the author has done her job! Well done.

[eire2011 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful book. Susanna has a way with words and seeming to bring characters to life. Full of intrigue, adventure and romance, it's one of my top favorites. Just when I think I've figured it out, another surprise appears. I can't wait to read more of her books!

[2lz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This time travel novel is not a genre that I usually read, but I am glad that I did. The story alternates between the present and the past. It is an engaging work of historical fiction.

[judithrs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Winter Sea. Susanna Kearsley. 2010. I don’t know when I have read such a romantic historical novel! Romance novels are not my usual choice, but I love European history, and the blurb on this book caught my eye. A successful young Canadian novelist visits her agent in Scotland and becomes interested in or is drawn to the ruins of Slains Castle on the coast. The more she finds out about it the more she wants to base her latest novel on the inhabitants of the castle who were involved with the 1708 attempt of the Scots and French to replace Queen Ann with the exiled James Stewart. Through her research Carrie leans that these Scots were her relatives and she feels an uncommon sense of deja vu. When she is not lost in of her landlord. So we have a modern romance based on an ancient one!

[wendytrim · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! I must move to Scotland soon and find me a lad...

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been hearing about this books for months in different groups I belong to, everyone who has read it saying they have absolutely loved it. Finally read it and loved it too. Such an interesting mix of history, genealogy, present and past, and romance, as I read I became totally immersed in both stories.Wonderful characters and I appreciated the fact that the author included a postscript detailing exactly which characters and what part of the story was actually historical fact.

[booklovers2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a perfect blend of history and romance with a new concept I had never heard of before - "genetic memory" a perfect way to explain the knowing without the kookieness!

[aprilvirgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

LOVED this book! I loved the characters, the idea, the pace and the ability of the author to jump between the past and the present, truth and fiction. I hope Ms. Kearsley has written a lot more books because I can't wait to read them!

[dianaleez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reminiscent of women's fiction in the early 1960's - cliffs, isolated village, castle ruins, mystic elements. It's fun if that's what you're looking for.

[mlleehreen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read a few pages of THE WINTER SEA and while I admired the excellent writing and wonderful setting and atmosphere, I wasn't really drawn in. I passed, but kept reading over and over again how wonderful THE WINTER SEA is. I read so many glowing reviews that I decided I'd give the book another try and see if, maybe, it was just the beginning that didn't work for me.

But I was tepid about the whole novel. It's very good! I understand why so many people fell in love with it. It just wasn't for me.

[nautilus-11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable tale of a period of Scotish history I'm not familiar with. I like the playing around with a happy versus an unhappy ending,

[satyridae · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable romance but much more enjoyable history lesson. The romantic story arcs (both of them) were pretty predictable. The real strength here was in the characters- each distinct, each believable. I dug it but was not transported.

[reigningstars · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I picked this up at random after reading the back cover,which had me at Scotland, but didn't realize till I got home it had a big old Romance tag on it and I was terrified I had one of THOSE romance novels (ew). Luckily this book is far from trashy romance books with Fabio on the cover, while there is romance in it, it did not make me roll my eyes and gag. This book was beautifully written and well researched and I was totally enthralled by the magic of Cruden Bay and Slains Castle. (

[afields435 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

well-written, great dialogue, interesting storyline

[becky_mckenna-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a brilliant piece of historical fiction with romance on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's beautiful writing style and was treated to vivid images of Scotland all the way through the book. The story itself starts out a little slow, but the author is laying the foundation for two stories that intersect across time in a way that makes sense. I was reminded a bit of Peter May's writing style, even though his genre is far different. ****More detailed review pending****

[mumugrrl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really tried to like this book but after 300 pages I gave up. It was too slow and too dry. The author was able to get me to envision the coast of Scotland, but nothing much happened. She said in her afterward that she used actual historical events, places, characters and even dialogue in the historical flashbacks. I think it made the story too stilted and took the magic out of it. Supposedly the protagonist, who was a modern day writer was having flashback memories of an ancestor who lived 300 years ago. The author even tried to use DNA as a scientific explanation of why her character was flashing back to the past. It just didn't work. She's a good writer, I just didn't like the book.

[bookhookgeek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a pretty good book, but I thought the surprise twist that gave a happy ending was unnecessary.